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Best surfing beaches

What are the best beaches for surfing in the USA? Dr. Bruce Gabrielson ought to know. Known throughout the surfing world as the Huntington Beach Snake, Gabrielson has been surfing breaks throughout the world since the early 1960s. Gabrielson talked with USATODAY.com's John Nunnally about his picks for the nation's best surfing beaches, which several surfers provided their input. The beaches are based on overall quality of the waves, breaks that provide waves that surfers can handle in any size swell, areas that offer less-crowded conditions and ones that are good for both longboard and shortboard surfing.

Sunset Beach played host to the Pipe Master meet, the final event of the Triple Crown of Surfing, in 2000.

By Ronen Zilberman, AP

1. Sunset Beach, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

"A high quality right point break over a reef with an inside bowl, Sunset Beach is capable of handling any size swell." For more information: www.visit-oahu.com.

2. Black's Beach, San Diego

"Better for more experienced surfers, this high quality, hollow, powerful, beach break handles a swell from any direction and virtually any size. There are numerous takeoff spots for lefts and rights that don't suffer from wind action until later in the day most of the time. For more information: www.sannet.gov/lifeguards/beaches/blacks.shtml

3. Cape Hatteras area, N.C.

"There are many quality spots in this area. The breaks can handle swells from any direction, both large and small, plus you can usually find a less-crowded rideable break regardless of wind direction most of the time." For more information: www.surfline.com/surfaz/cape_hatteras.cfm

4. Trestles, San Clemente, Calif.

"The Trestles offer a series of point-like breaks that offer high quality shaped long rights and fast lefts, regardless of season and in almost every swell direction. The waves are consistent regardless of tide, and the wind holds off from trashing the surf most mornings. Crowds are in the water all day long, every day." For more information: ci.san-clemente.ca.us/sc/Rec/Surf/Tour

5. Malibu Beach, Malibu, Calif.

"A summer right point break with long high quality shaped waves, Malibu Beach is subject to tremendous crowds but many takeoff spots. It can be surfed on both short and longboard with ease." For more information: www.malibusurfing.com